Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:19 pm on 12 October 2022.
No, I think you've spoken enough, Janet. Those in the private rental sector face increasing rent inflation. On top of this, remember, 45 per cent of households in Wales are now trapped in fuel poverty, and 98 per cent of low-income households are living in fuel poverty, having to spend more than 20 per cent of their income on energy. And these figures were published before inflation hit record levels, pushing up costs of everyday items. Dirprwy Lywydd, there is simply nowhere for these families to turn. There's no slack in the budget.
The Welsh Government has tried to offer different programmes of support where possible, which, of course, is to be commended, but the truth is that the payments on offer are not going to touch the sides and they are not going to help everybody in need. It may be mild out there today, but be in no doubt that winter is already here, a winter that will have a terrible impact on the health and well-being of too many Welsh families. And the worst affected will be those who already suffer socioeconomic disadvantage. The worst affected will be people with disabilities; women; single parents; people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds; people who have physical and mental health problems; families with children; younger people; LGBTQ+ people—groups of people who already face barriers as regards housing, employment opportunities, income gaps, health inequalities, higher costs.
The cost-of-living crisis has to be seen in the same terms of the COVID crisis, the lessons of which were hard learnt by this Government. But the phrase I remember being used by Ministers, when they understood, although too late for some families, that radical and bold action needed to be taken to save lives in the face of Westminster inaction was, 'Go hard, go early.' We need to see the same approach again with this crisis. We need to go hard and go early. The Government have the powers to protect the people of Wales from the brunt of the harm of Tory ideological indifference in respect of protecting those who are at an increased risk of economic hardship, debt and homelessness this winter, because there are circumstances in emergencies and crises where it is necessary to bring in temporary emergency measures, and this is especially needed by those groups who are most disadvantaged by the combined housing and cost-of-living crises. The director of public health at Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board, Dr Kelechi Nnoaham, said today:
'The cost of living crisis is going to do exactly what the Covid crisis did'.
The impact of the crisis was deeper on the most deprived areas of Wales, the death rate twice as high. It's that same inequality, those same vulnerabilities, that the cost-of-living crisis is deepening. The suffering of people in those groups and communities will again be greater.